In today’s drive to improve well production, more innovative methods are continually being implemented to enhance well productivity and reservoir management. Remote monitoring and interactive control are two such methods that are frequently employed to derive more value from wells. In Saudi Arabia, the world’s first Maximum Reservoir Contact (MRC) well to use Intelligent Well Systems (IWS) and fiber-optic monitoring to maximize production performance was implemented.
Remote monitoring and interactive control systems were implemented on Well 194, which was drilled as a tri-lateral MRC well with 4.2 km (2.61 mi) of total reservoir contact. The IWS utilized feed-through production packers to isolate each of three laterals in the motherbore. Three remotely operated downhole chokes were installed to independently control flow from each lateral to optimize overall well production. This control extends the production plateau while maximizing reservoir drainage.
The fiber-optic monitoring system enables remote monitoring of key production parameters . . .